Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Jurassic World Dominion

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Let me start out be saying DO NOT listen to the critics (except for me, but I am more of a reviewer anyway And besides, I know better!).  Critics are panning this movie big time and I just don’t get it.  I was very entertained throughout the whole movie.  The plot, in a nutshell, has dinosaurs loose all over the world.  People are trying to learn how to live with them, but mankind, no surprise, is not being kind.  Some are being hunted and used as sport in giant fight pits, some are turned into side show carnival food, while some are being protected in dino sanctuaries.  But overwhelming all of that is a worse problem. A certain evil biotech company has made genetically altered dino-grasshoppers that are threatening the entire food crop producers of the world (except in areas they control).  This is where the original Jurassic Park crew meets the Jurassic World actors.  I loved this whole part of the movie.  It was so cool to see Ellie Satler (Laura Dern) and Alan Grant (Sam Neill) reunited along with Jeff Goldblum as Ian Malcolm.  Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt are back too.  Not only do these five band together to save the earth, they are out to rescue a young girl whose genetics hold a key to the future for us all.  One of the best things I like about this movie was the little tributes to the original.  There are allusions to electric fences, a shaving cream can, the original Jurassic Park logo, Samuel L. Jackson’s “hold on to your butts” line and Ian Malcolm’s many wives and kids.  I am not saying this is the best movie of the year (I think I would give Top Gun that distinction) but for fans of the Jurassic movies this is definitely a must see.  On a side note, if you have never read the original novel by Michael Crichton, I highly recommend you put this book at the top of your summer reading list.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

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I am pretty sure that I would want to visit a Jurassic Park as envisioned by Steven Spielberg and the original book by Michael Crichton.  Yes, things went wrong; but if scientists could bring dinosaurs back safely, admit it, you couldn’t stay away either.  However, I can’t imagine many people would want to go to a Jurassic World, with its sheer commercialism and lack of feeling and empathy, its wanton disregard for anything other than making money.  The newest entry into the Jurassic frachise demonstrates the pessimistic notion that people will do anything, and I mean anything, to feed their greed.  The movie opens with the abandoned island doomed because of an impending volcanic erruption.  All dinosaurs will perish. This is a big moral dilemma.  Should these creatures, who were engineered in a laboratory and have no business livng in our century, be saved – or should  nature be allowed to take its course?  Luckily (or is it?) for the dinosaurs, Sir Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), the former business partner of John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) and the team that created the original park, wants  to step in and save as many of these noble creatures as possible,  To this end, he hires Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and others, to retrieve the dinosaurs and place them in a reserve where no one will be able to bother and/or exploit them.  As you can imagine, this may be his intent, but it’s not the real plan.  Lockwood’s assisstant and right hand man Eli (Rafe Spall) has plans that are utterly mean and cruel.  This is a character beyond redemption! (Pretty much as all the bad guys in these movies are).  But you will find everything you would ever want to see in a Jurassic movie in this one: gorgeous scenery, realistic dinosaurs, evil scientists and a cautionary quote from Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum).  All of this being said, Jurassic World is scary, emotional and exciting.  I won’t spoil it here, but Jurassic World has one of the most sequel-worthy endings in the history of franchise summmer movies.  I’m betting Chris and Bryce have already been committed to a resolve-the-teasers movie! So, there will be a sequel; oh yes, you will want to go see it!

Thor Ragnarok

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Some super hero movies get so bogged down in cinematic effects that they lose that magic spark that makes super heroes so appealing.  Luckily that is not the case for this one.  First of all, there is a lot more wit and humor than is usual even for the Marvel Universe movies. Thor, as played by Chris Hemsworth is not only pleasant on the eyes ,but is quite the comedian and will have you laughing many times at the witty dialogue.  His character has come a long way from that duck-out-of-water of his first movie. Yes, there are still plenty of special effects, but I didn’t mind because I was having too much fun watching.  Cate Blanchett is deliciously evil as Thor’s visually striking sister, Hela, who wants to destroy Asgard.  When she appears at the beginning of the movie, Thor finds himself without his hammer and ends up on a planet ruled by Jeff Goldblum playing a wacky, oh wait a minute, playing Jeff Goldblum.  If you have seen any of the trailers you know that Thor and The Hulk will be forced to fight in a gladiatorial arena. Thor and Hulk eventually escape. They have to, events in Asgard are coming to war and rebellion, and there is plenty of action as Thor and his companions strive to save the real Asgard.  Not sure what that means?  Go see this movie and all will become clear, it’s worth it!  Other standouts are Tom Hiddleston, Karl Urban, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins and Benedict Cumberbatch.  Look for a fun trio of cameo appearances by Matt Damon, Sam Neill and Luke Hemsworh.  Stan Lee makes his usual cameo too,and I think it is my favorite.  This is an entertaining and funny movie and I think that just about everyone will find something to enjoy.